PULSAR READING ORDER: Monica Rambeau (2005-2013)

Genis-Vell took her name when he became Captain Marvel. Now he's changing his name to Photon, prompting Monica Rambeau to choose yet another identity. As Photon, Monica joins Nextwave, assists in the war against the Superhuman Registration Act, takes on Erik Killmonger and becomes best friends with a band of female heroes! But the identity changes don't stop there...

MCG Notes:

• Issue listings in blue & black: The must-read Photon stories from this time period, along with any key related stories and often-forgotten tales that are worth a read.
• Issue listings in grey: Part of Photon's chronology, cameo appearances or stories of note that non-essential or no longer considered 'required reading'.
• Chronology: Every appearance of Photon from this period is included in chronological order - mapping out his timeline rather than just the order the issues were released.
• Spoilers: The issue/story overviews may include spoilers, so be warned!
• WANT TO KEEP IT SIMPLE? Scroll down to THE CORE LIST to see a version of this reading order without story descriptions, page-by-page breakdowns or less important appearances - just a list of the essentials.

Follow Monica Rambeau's adventures in her earlier identities with these reading orders:

• 1982-1994: Captain Marvel
• 1996-2005: Photon

New Thunderbolts #9 (2005)

First appearance of Photon/Monica Rambeau as Pulsar; Monica confronts Genis-Vell over taking the name Photon; over a drink, Genis suggests the name Pulsar which Monica likes.

GLA #2 (2005)

Pulsar cameo; Pulsar turns down an offer to join the Great Lakes Avengers.

Black Panther #12-13 (2006)

Pulsar joins the Black Panther, Blade, Brother Voodoo and Luke Cage in a war against a vampire horde in New Orleans.

She-Hulk #7 (2006)

Pulsar cameo; Pulsar is among the people approached by She-Hulk about their time working with Starfox on the Avengers.

Nextwave #1-12 (2006-2007)

First appearance of Nextwave, Dirk Anger, the Beyond Corporation, the Captain and HATE (Highest Anti-Terrorism Effort); Pulsar joins Nextwave, a team of superhumans that includes Elsa Bloodstone, the Captain, Tabitha Smith (Boom Boom) and Aaron Stack (Machine Man) who carry out missions for the Beyond Corporation; when they learn Beyond are producing unusual weapons of mass destruction, Nextwave turn against them and their handler, Dirk Anger, and start ruining their operations.

Black Panther #18 (2006)

Pulsar attends the wedding of the Black Panther and Storm during CIVIL WAR / WEDDING OF THE CENTURY.

Civil War #4-5 (2006)

Punisher War Journal #2(pp.1-7) (2007)

Black Panther #24-25(pp.1-3) (2007)

Punisher War Journal #3(pp.2-3) (2007)

Punisher War Journal #2(p.22) (2007)

Civil War #6 (2006)

Punisher War Journal #3(pp.10-11) (2007)

Black Panther #25(pp.5-20) (2007)

Pulsar and Machine Man jump from Nextwave to join Captain America's the Secret Avengers as they oppose the Superhuman Registration Act and assault Prison 42, freeing the imprisoned heroes; Pulsar becomes a key member of the group, working closely with the Black Panther when they battle Iron Man's pro-registration forces during CIVIL WAR.

Black Panther #35-38 (2008)

The Iron Man sends Pulsar into Niganda to depose Erik Killmonger when he goes rogue, inciting a war with Wakanda by kidnapping Shuri; after being captured and tortured, Pulsar gets to have her revenge against Killmonger.

Secret Invasion: Home Invasion #4, 7 (2008)

Kinsey Walden meets Pulsar and teams up with her and Sasquatch while searching for her missing brother during SECRET INVASION.

Marvel Divas #1-4 (2009)

Pulsar becomes good friends with the Black Cat, Hellcat and Firestar; Pulsar reveals she'd begun a relationship with Brother Voodoo which was now over, but he still kept calling her; Pulsar and Brother Voodoo get back together while on a mission. 

Marvel Digital Holiday Special #2[1/3] (2009)

Pulsar, Black Cat, Firestar & Hellcat save some kids and celebrate Christmas together.

Incredible Hulk #607[1/2]-608[1/2] (2010)

Pulsar cameo; Pulsar is among the heroes drawn into the war with the Intelligencia and transformed by them during FALL OF THE HULKS.

World War Hulks: Captain America vs Wolverine #1[2/2] (2010)

Incredible Hulk #611[1/2] (2010)

A Hulked-out Pulsar fights the equally-Hulked-out War Machine, Thing and Ms Marvel while recalling her time with Nextwave during WORLD WAR HULKS.

Firestar #1 (2010)

Firestar crashes at Monica Rambeau's place during WOMEN OF MARVEL / NOW, NOT TOMORROW.

I Am An Avenger #2[2/4] (2010)

Monica Rambeau cameo; Firestar hangs out with Monica and Hellcat.

Heralds #1-5 (2010)

Frankie Raye's spirit returns to Earth and is reborn in the human form of Frances Hyatt, allowing her to become Nova once again; Pulsar and a number of other female heroes investigate her return.

Young Allies #6 (2011)

Monica Rambeau cameo; Firestar goes on a night out with her friends during THE HEROIC AGE / NOW, NOW TOMORROW.

Avengers #18 (2011)

Pulsar cameo; Pulsar attends an informal gathering of Avengers during SHATTERED HEROES / OSBORN RISES.

Avengers Assemble Annual #1 (2013)

Monica Rambeau cameo.

Captain Marvel #7-8 (2013)

Pulsar teams up with Carol Danvers who's taken on the mantle of Captain Marvel; the pair investigate a mystery involving missing boats and a giant robot.

Journey into Mystery #649 (2013)

Pulsar cameo; Pulsar defends the Avengers' monitoring station when an Asgardian giant calling himself 'The Emperor of Mars' threatens to invade Earth.

A version of this reading order without story descriptions, page-by-page breakdowns or less important appearances - just a list of the essentials:

• New Thunderbolts #9
• Black Panther #12-13
• Nextwave #1-12
• Black Panther #24-25, 35-38
• Marvel Divas #1-4
• Marvel Digital Holiday Special #2
• World War Hulks: Captain America vs Wolverine #1[2/2]
• Heralds #1-5
• Captain Marvel #7-8

Monica Rambeau's reading order continues when she takes on another new identity:

• 2013-2015: Spectrum

Notable collected editions that include the above appearances of Pulsar:

New Thunderbolts vol.2: Modern Marvels

Includes...

New Thunderbolts #9

Black Panther: Bad Mutha

Black Panther by Reginald Hudlin - The Complete Collection vol.1

Both include...
Black Panther #12-13

Nextwave: Agents of HATE - The Complete Collection

Nextwave #1-12

Black Panther by Reginald Hudlin - The Complete Collection vol.2

Black Panther: Civil War

Civil War Fantastic Four HC

All include...
Black Panther #24-25

Black Panther: Back to Africa

Black Panther by Reginald Hudlin - The Complete Collection vol.3

Both include...
Black Panther #35-38

Marvel Divas

Marvel Divas #1-4

Heralds

Heralds #1-5

Captain Marvel vol.2: Down

Captain Marvel: Earth's Mightiest Hero vol.1

Both include...
Captain Marvel #7-8